House model



Sept. 17, 1940.

F. soums 2,214,988

HOUSE MODEL Original Filed Feb. 25, 1939 B B0llzaiw Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED vsatires HOUSE MODEL Frank Bolhuis, Holland, Mich.

Original application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,421. Divided and this application July 7,

1939, Serial No. 283,258

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to house models, and more particularly to structures adapted for use by architects, contractors, or lumber companies for demonstration and selling purposes.

This application is divisional from my'copending application Serial No. 258,421, filed February 25, 1939, and is also a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 190,385, filed February 14, 1938. This application further relates generally to the subject matter of my Patent No. 2,118,338, issued May 24, 1938.

The primary objects of the present invention are to provide such a house model having an improved frame for the reception and retention of interchangeable floor panels and wall panels, said frame being extensible in length and breadth; and, to provide such a structure of simple and economical construction and of especial adaptability for its intended use.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partially assembled house model, the roof and certain wall panels being omitted to disclose the skeleton 25 frame of the structure. The particular house model illustrated in the drawing is of extremely simple design and is but one example from a great variety of such models which might be built upon the same frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a corner portion of a two-story skeleton frame.

Referring then to this drawing, the house model there illustrated comprises a skeleton frame generally designated [0, a floor plan panel 35 H, and Wall panels 12.

The skeleton frame is supported at the corners thereof by vertically disposed corner posts I3 each having a pair of angularly disposed longitudinal panel receiving slots I4, the oppositely disposed slots of adjacent comer posts l3 being adapted to receive and retain the opposite ends of a Wall panel I2 bearing thereon a representation of the wall of a house.

Corner members I 5 are provided with laterally depending outer side flanges I 6 which are secured as by spot welding to the angularly meeting inner surfaces of the corner posts l3 adjacent the upper and lower ends of these posts l3. The several lower corner members l5 form a support for the floor panel ll removably disposed thereupon and bearing on its upper surface the floor plan of a house.

The corner members 15 are each further provided with a pair of laterally depending inner side flanges l1 disposed at right angles to each other, and a sleeve l 8 projects laterally from each flange I1 and is secured thereto as by passing a reduced end portion of the sleeve through an aperture in the flange and riveting over the extreme end of the sleeve.

Rods l9 forming the side rails of the skeleton frame have their opposite ends slidably fitted in the sleeves l8 of the corner members l5 secured to adjacent corner posts [3, and set screws 20 threaded in the sleeves I8 provide means for securing the rods in adjusted positions relative to the sleeves. By this arrangement the skeleton frame is rendered extensible in length and breadth to accommodate floor plan panels of different sizes and shapes and wall panels of different widths.

In portraying a two story structure, longer corner posts I3 are employed as illustrated in Figure 2, and the wall panels used bear representations of the walls of a two story structure. If desired, corner members I5 having outer-side flanges I6 and inner side flanges H of identical construction as the corner members l5, may be secured to the corner posts I3 intermediate the ends thereof, and a second floor plan panel H may be removably disposed on and supported by said corner members I5 It will further be seen that the number of stories in the structure may be increased by using still longer corner posts, appropriate wall panels, and a greater number of floor plan panels and supporting corner members therefor.

It will be seen that the representation of windows and doors in the selected wall panels conform to the indications of windows and doors on the selected floor plan, so that upon removal of the roof of the house model, prospective builders may readily form a mental picture of the interior of a proposed house simulated by the house model.

While but several specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details of the constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a skeleton frame comprising vertically disposed corner posts, corner members secured to said posts adjacent the lower ends thereof, side rails longitudinally adjustably connecting the corner posts to render the skeleton frame extensible in length and breadth, and a floor panel removably supported by the several corner members corresponding in size and shape to the adjusted skeleton frame and bearing on its upper surface the floor plan of a house.

2. In a structure of the class described, a skeleton frame comprising vertically disposed corner posts having longitudinal panel receiving slots, corner members secured to said posts adjacent the lower ends thereof side rails longitudinally adjustably connecting the corner posts to render the skeleton frame extensible in length 

